Blog Blues

I've been finding it difficult to get over here and put up new posts. I blog at 5 group blogs a month and try to be a guest on other blogs every month. Writing all of those makes the well dry when it comes to my blog.

Over the years I've tried having different days be about certain subjects and that didn't seem to bring more bloggers over to my blog.

My goal is to keep the blog up, but I'll only blog here once a week with releases, events that are happening, or something fun that comes along. Like my ride-along this Saturday with an ODFW Officer to learn more about my character in the mystery series that will come out next year. I was looking forward to it, but seeing as how there is a good 8-10 inches in the area where I'm riding along...I'm thinking this may be interesting. We'll have more time for me to pick his brain, I think, than actual checking on fishermen and the outdoors.

If you have something you think people who read my blog would like to see here, let me know in the comments. 

I'm excited to be part of the Wild Deadwood Reads Anthology that will be available in print and ebook May 1st.  I'll be posting all the info here when it is available. It is 17 short stories by authors who are attending the Wild Deadwood Reads Event June 7th-10th at Deadwood, SD.  The stories are either present day, historical, or have a paranormal element in them. All the proceeds from the print and ebooks will go to Western Sports Foundation an organization that helps rodeo athletes with medical bills.

I have a lot of other exciting things coming up. Next week I'll be attending the Left Coast Crime Conference in Reno, NV.  I hope to have some photos and info here after that event or possibly during.

Enjoy your day!

My 2016 Left Coast Crime Experience #LCC2016

I was giddy the day I received an unexpected royalty check that would pay my fee to attend the Left Coast Crime 2016 conference in Phoenix, AZ. It was a sign! I was meant to go to this conference. In the comments section I said I would be delighted to be on a panel or moderate a panel about writing different cultures or one on amateur sleuths or female protagonists.

A month later I received an email stating I'd been picked to moderate the panel "Writing Different Cultures." This was good, but even better was the list of multi-award-winning authors I was able to email and ask question to be well informed and come up with good questions for the panel. (See previous post about this panel) They all replied to my emails and questions and I couldn't wait to meet them.

Then I received word that because my book Double Duplicity was a finalist in the Chanticleer Reviews, Mystery and Mayhem contest I would be featured along with other finalists at a night-time event, Friday during the conference. I private messaged author Wendy Delaney (Working Stiffs Mysteries) who had participated in this event last year. I asked if I needed books to sell. She said she sold one book but gave away a lot of promotional stuff. So I put books back on the shelf and shoved promotional items into my suitcase.

Oops! When I arrived at the Boise airport the suitcase was almost five pounds over. I quickly shoved as much promo stuff as I could get into my carry-on and still was two pounds over but they let me go. Whew! Love the Boise airport!

I arrived in Phoenix, hitched a ride on an airport shuttle, and discovered the hotel I'd book was only two blocks from the Hyatt where the conference was being held. Yes, I'm that kind of person. I prefer my privacy and it was half the cost. To my delight the Hotel San Carlos was built in 1928, was gorgeous, and had a comfortable bed. The down-side to the hotel, I didn't find them very customer friendly.

Melissa Yi in Red

After putting my things in my corner room, I headed to the Hyatt for A Million Ways to Die in the Dessert Reception. They had a buffet set up with treats and of course no-host bar. I ran into my writer friend from Bend, OR, Alison Wells and her sister Julie. We visited, watched people go by, and they filled me in on the workshops I'd already missed. The conference started that morning.

From there we moved into the Ballroom for the Opening Ceremonies and Welcome Reception. Buffet tables were set up here as well. This was a Mexican fare. Tortillas, beef, chicken, and pork, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cabbage, chorizos, pear and cheese brioche. It was yummy! The toast master for the whole event was Catriona McPherson. Yes, she's Scots and I loved listening to her talk! And, by the way, you say it Ca-treee-nah. She is funny! And well worth a listen if you ever have the chance.

Catriona McPherson Interview Saturday

Afterwards, I toddled down the street to my hotel and settled in for the night.

Friday morning I arose early to get my books put in the bookstore. I arrived at 8:30 to find out the book store wouldn't open until 10:00. Waiting to put my books in the book store, I sat close by the doors. I didn't want to drag the books around.There were close to 40 people tried the doors or read the sign. Several making comments about how were they to buy books if the doors weren't open. The one thing at the conference that wasn't run well was the book store. The only open times coincided with the panels. They didn't stay open during the cocktail hour when people are loosened up and looking for something to do before the next event or in the morning before the panels started and people were milling around waiting.

While waiting for the book store to open, I read the event pamphlet and discovered a Canadian author who is part of Windtree Press, the author co-op I'm in, was presenting at the panel, Jewish Noir. When I could finally dump my books, I slipped in, listened to the panelists talk about writing Jewish fiction and how they each had a story in a Jewish Noir collection. After the panel, I went up and introduced myself. Melissa Yi-Yuan is not only an author of fiction and non-fiction she is also an ER doctor. Meeting her gave me more insight into who she is. We discussed her books and the co-op before she had to sit down to sign books. I headed to the panel, Cherchez La Feme, Women Overturning the Stereotype: Strong female sleuths as role models. This was an interesting panel, All female but for one male author who had a strong female secondary character. Since I write strong female characters I thought it would be enlightening. It was entertaining. ;)  I ran into my friend Alison, we had lunch together, and I asked her if she had any Advil. The angel that she is, she did and she shared it with me until I could get to a pharmacy.

Before I left for the conference my hubby came down with something. Friday at conference I felt it coming on! After lunch, I worked two hours at the registration desk signing people up to sit at author hosted tables for the awards banquet. Then I attended one more panel,  Romance Under the Gun. It was a panel of all ladies and the topic was how much romance is too much in a mystery. And while I've been docked in reviews that my mystery books have too much romance, mine are mild compared to several of these ladies. What I came away from this panel with is if it works for the characters you can be as heavy or as light as you want with the romance.

At Blue Rooster Event

From that panel, I headed to my hotel and asked for directions to a pharmacy. The desk clerk said go two blocks that way turn left and you can't miss it. I followed her directions and didn't see a thing. I tried to use my phone, but had left my glasses in the room. I stood on a corner in downtown Phoenix and my phone rang. Daughter #2 asked me what I was doing. I said, standing on a street corner in Phoenix. Without a pause she said, "I guess no one there would recognize you."  Yes, this is my husband's side of the family humor! Anyway, I wandered around, didn't find the pharmacy and headed back to the hotel to change and get things packed in my little wheeled bag to take to the Chanticleer Reviews Blue Rooster Saloon Event.

Visiting with readers.

At the event I met several people I'd only met online, visited with lots of readers who talked with us and then made a beeline for the antipasto buffet. The event had lots of good food! I gave away Shandra Higheagle coffee mugs and handed out promotional materials. A tall man was standing at a table in the middle of the room. He glanced my way smiled big and waved like I should know him. I waved back and went on visiting with Nancy G. West who was the author beside me.  She was hilarious and I can't wait to read her books! The tall gentleman who waved came over. "I'm sorry," he said, holding his hand out for a shake. "I thought you were someone else, I'm Sandy Sanborn." He was another author. He sat down and the three of us talked about books, the republican debate, the conference, and family members in the military. By the end of the event I was wilting big time. My feet hurt from tromping all over the place looking for a pharmacy in my new cowboy boots and I had all the promotion stuff I didn't give away to haul back to my hotel. A man on a bike-rickshaw pulled up alongside me when I stepped out of the hotel and asked if I needed a lift. I told him I only had two blocks how much would it cost? He said whatever I wanted to pay. I hopped on along with my heavy bag and he regaled me with his three kids, the fourth one on the way, he hadn't been able to find a decent job, and had been doing this for four years. I thanked him at the hotel and paid him seven dollars. It was all I had on me.

By the time I was ready to crash, I was coughing, had chills, and my throat was aching. If I'd been smart, I would have asked the man to wait, went up to my room and grabbed my purse and had him take me to a pharmacy. But I wasn't thinking clearly. I took a hot bath, downed sinus pills and didn't crawl out of bed Saturday until 9 when the maid knocked on my door.  I asked her if she could get me some medicine, she told me to call the desk. I called down, they told me. "No," I put clothes on, hit google maps, and found a pharmacy in the opposite direction the desk clerk told me to go the day before. I hobbled there with my blistered feet and bought $50 worth of drugs and band-aids. I put the band-aids on my feet outside the store and hobbled back to the hotel. Took the meds and slept some more.  I was determined nothing was going to keep me from my panel on Sunday morning. I'd prepped and prepared and it was to be my big moment at the conference. I finally got up in time to go to one of the last panels of the day, Psychology of Murder. It was interesting and insightful. There were two retired policewomen and three Psychologists. The way they presented the information made me feel like I'm not overstepping the bounds of reality for some of the reasons my characters murder. Because I'd paid the extra for the banquet meal, I was determined to go to the meal. Not only did I care about the money, I also wanted to reconnect with Dorothy Black Crow, an author I met last year who writes Native American mystery and Melissa Yi-Yuan were sitting at the same table. I told the author hosting the table, Dorothy, and Melissa, I was only staying long enough to eat and then I was going to my room, take some Nyquil and sleep until morning, so I would be well for the panel.

I woke Sunday morning with a fireball in my throat and barely any voice. I didn't know what to do. Should I contact someone and have them find a new moderator? No, I wanted to this.  I dressed, swallowed Ibuprofen, grabbed a bottle of water and my throat lozenges and headed to the Hyatt. I stood outside the room, waiting for people to arrive. Carole Sojka, one of Ladies of Mystery blog partners who I'd visited with a couple of times during the conference came up to me, smiling. I smiled back and whispered, "This should be interesting I don't have a voice." She gave me her sweet smile and said, "That's what the microphones are for. Go kill it!"  I could have hugged her! And Danita Cahill knows that's showing how much Carole's words meant to me!

I went inside and eventually the other authors arrived. I explained, I had barely a voice, to please bare with me. Kent Krueger and Shannon Baker were the first to show up. They said, no problem. I asked one of them to field questions when we got to that part of the panel because as moderator was was supposed to repeat question from the audience because the panel was being taped. Jeffery Siger arrived. He was hoarse. He is allergic to feathers and after sleeping two nights on feather pillows discovered why he'd lost his voice and was having out issues. Then Timothy Hallinan arrived. I repeated my problem, and he croaked back, me too. It turned out to be a good panel discussion. I couldn't put in as much as I would have liked, sticking to only the questions I'd jotted down, but the others had been on panels before and knew each other well. Their camaraderie, quick wits, and Kent stepping in and filling blank air time made the event click.

When the panel was over, I stayed about fifteen minutes to sign one book, gathered my unsold books from the book store, and headed to my hotel. Packed and spent 8 hours sitting in the Phoenix airport sipping tea, popping throat lozenges, writing, reading, and watching people. The stress was over.

All in all the conference was good, considering I didn't mingle as much as I should have. But I didn't want to give my crud to everyone I came in contact with. I sat in the last row in the corner of the rooms with my bag on the seat beside me so no one got close enough to catch anything. I hope. But on Sunday, poor Alison looked how I'd felt on Saturday. She'd come down with something. I hope she was able to get home okay and get well.

In our moderator packet, we were told to thank our panel members after the conference. I sent out the emails today and had some wonderful responses! They literally made my day!

Last night when my hubby picked me up at the airport, I said the best part of the weekend was the 8 stress-free hours at the airport, but today, writing this post, seeing what I did, and who I met, I'd say the best part of the weekend was meeting new author friends and learning about their journeys to publication. The only readers I'm positive I interacted with were at the Blue Rooster Saloon event.

Mystery Panel- Writing about other Cultures

 When I signed up for the Left Coast Crime Conference, I sent along a note saying if they had a panel on writing other cultures I could be on it since my main character in my Shandra Higheagle Mysteries is half Nez Perce. And I'd checked the box saying I could be a moderator.

Lo-and-behold, they put the two together! I am moderating a panel titled: Writing about other Cultures. We have a great panel.

William Kent Krueger- Writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O'Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage--part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

Jeffery Siger - an American living on the Aegean Greek island of Mykonos. A Pittsburgh native and former Wall Street lawyer, he gave up a career as a name partner in his own New York City law firm to write mystery thrillers that tell more than just a fast-paced story. His novels are aimed at exploring serious societal issues confronting modern day Greece in a tell-it-like-it-is style while touching upon the country's ancient roots.

Shannon Baker - Is the author of the Nora Abbott mystery series from Midnight Ink. A fast-paced mix of Hopi Indian mysticism, environmental issues, and murder. The first in the series, Tainted Mountain, is set in Flagstaff, AZ, where she lived for several years and worked for The Grand Canyon Trust, a hotbed of environmentalists who, usually, don’t resort to murder. It is a 2013 finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards.

Timothy Hallinan -His fourth thriller set in Bangkok, THE QUEEN OF PATPONG was nominated for the Edgar and the Macavity Award and was chosen a "Ten Best" book by half a dozen publications. The most recent in the series, THE HOT COUNTRIES, was chosen a Best Book of 2015 by Library Journal and the Strand Magazine, among others. The series' protagonist, travel writer Poke Rafferty, is now an expat living in Bangkok and literally married to the culture, with a Thai wife and an adopted daughter, a former street child. In Tim's other current series, the Junior Bender mysteries, about a burglar who moonlights as a private eye for crooks, he writes about another "exotic" culture, that of Los Angeles criminals. Tim has homes in California and Bangkok, and in 48 hours he'll be on a plane back to the Big Mango.

As you can see, I've got my work cut out for me working with these great authors. I read their bios, read a book from each of them, and then came up with questions that will not only tell the audience a bit about their books but get to the reasons behind their characters, cultures, and settings.

They are all wonderful writers. If you haven't picked up a book by them, I would encourage you to do so.

I'll be one of the featured authors at the Chanticleer Reviews Blue Rooster Saloon no-host cocktails from 6:30 -9:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix. My book Double Duplicity is a finalist for the Mayhem and Murder award. If you come to the Blue Rooster Saloon event, I'll have a Shandra Higheagle coffee mug for you.  

Left Coast Crime Conference

This month I'm headed to the Left Coast Crime Conference in Phoenix, AZ. I attended my first LCC conference last year. I like the relaxed atmosphere and panels by mystery authors of all the sub-genres.

The conference has nightly events. I signed up to have a table at:
The Blue Rooster Mystery Saloon - Readers Welcome! Cash Bar and Complimentary Light Appetizers  -- Friday, Feb. 26 from 7 p.m. until 9:30ish at the Hyatt Hotel. This event is open to the public, so if you live in the Phoenix area and aren't attending the event you can still come. It's free to attend! This event is sponsored by Chanticleer Reviews. My book Double Duplicity is up for their Mystery and Mayhem award.

I'll have a special on my Shandra Higheagle Mystery books during the event and will give away a mug to anyone who purchases two or more Shandra books that night.

Saturday will be a day of attending panels, meeting people, and the banquet that evening.

Sunday I'm participating in a panel with other writers whose books deal with other cultures. Some, like me, have Native American elements, one has stories set in Thailand, and the other in Greece. I'm moderating the panel and have been reading and enjoying their books and coming up with questions for each of them and a brief bio. I don't normally like being the one running a panel, but I'm excited about this one and the authors who will be part of it.

During the conference I hope to hook up with some Women Writing the West members and some of my Ladies of Mystery blog partners.

This should be a fun trip and a good time to connect with other mystery writers.

Do you like attending conferences?

Left Coast Crime Thoughts

I arrived at Left Coast Crime Conference in Portland, Oregon Thursday before noon. I deposited books with the book seller at the conference and dropped off my gift basket for the silent auction. Proceeds from the silent auction went to S.M.A.R.T. (Start Making A Reader Today).

I had lunch with fellow Windtree Press author Pamela Cowan and Debbie Burke from Jan’s Paperback Books.

I visited with people I knew and attended the last workshop for the day, “Gotta Stay Fresh: How to keep a series from getting stale.”  The authors on the panel were: Vicki Delany, D.V. Berkom, Becky Clark, Philip Donlay and Mike Lawson. It was a good blend of seasoned authors with long series and authors who only had a few books in a series. My take-a-way from this session was to age your characters- don’t keep them at 29 or whatever age they are. Don’t have the Jessica Fletcher syndrome where the main character finds a body every  time they step outside their house. Make sure there is some time between discoveries. (This can go with the aging thing) And write a main character who shows growth and that you want to hang out with for 6 or 100 books.

The guest speaker that afternoon was Phillip Margolin.  He was funny, witty, and not what you would expect from a person who defended criminals for a living before he became a full-time author.

That evening I retired early. ;)

Friday morning there was a New Author breakfast. Those of us who had published our first mystery or thriller were asked to give a one minute spiel about our books. There were 35 new authors.

The first session I attended was “Death in a Small Town- Rural and suburban crime fiction.” The authors were Terry Shames, LeslieBudewitz, M.P. Cooley, G.M. Malliet, and Cindy Sample. The take-a-way on this one to me dealt with how the setting comes in to play with the collecting of clues. In small/rural areas there is gossip and more chance of someone seeing something where in a large city people tend to have blinders on.

Next was my panel. “How did that body get there? The amateur sleuth.” I had a good time answering questions and getting to know my panel group: Lori Rader-Day, Allen Eskens, Barbara Petty, and Ilene Schneider. Every one had a different type of amateur sleuth and it gave the audience a well-rounded vision of how you can use an amateur sleuth.

After the panel we were hustled to an area where they had book signing tables set up. I continued conversations with my other panelists and autographed a couple of books.

 After lunch with Vella Munn and her friend,Jennifer Greer, who has a book coming out in June.  I attended “She Said, She said; Writing the female protagonist.”  The panelists were MegGardiner, Lisa Farrow, Darrell James, Frances McNamara, and Carole Sojka.  This one had little take-a-way for me. They mainly discussed their characters and Darrell told us the reasons he felt he could write from a female perspective.  To be honest, I didn’t see that it’s such a stretch. Women authors write from a male perspective all the time and no one seems to make a fuss over that. Anyway, the questions from the audience were interesting

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Then I attended a workshop with 5 FBI agents. This one was interesting! They were from the Portland Bureau. All good looking, well educated, and funny. They represented: Child Exploitation Task Force, Cyber Task Force, Local Terrorism, International Terrorism and the Swat Team. The terrorism task force heads scanned the room continually and their faces were blank and stern. The Child Exploitation agent was very reserved, the computer task force guy was introspective, and the Swat guy acted like a normal guy. He wasn’t in a suit and told more jokes.  We learned what each task force did and how they work with other agencies.

The guest speaker in the afternoon was Timothy Halliman. He’s a world traveler and his books sound more character based with a small amount of mystery in them.

Having been invited to the Chanticleer  Dessert later that night I stayed at the conference hotel.  I sat in the bar with Pamela Cowan, Debbie Burke, Cory Lynn Fayman, his wife, and Nancy G. West.  

I attended the Left Coast Crime 25^th Anniversary Celebration where they had door prizes, hors d’oeurves, a magician, and a song led by L.J. Sellers. After that I wandered to the second floor and the dessert party. I visited with some readers there then hoofed it back to my hotel, three blocks away.

Saturday morning started with a breakfast hosted by Sistersin Crime. We had a nice continental breakfast then they had a panel of Representative Nancy Pelosi, Chief of Portland Police, and a detective. They told us about their careers, their firsts on the job as police officers, what it felt like to be pulled in front of the IA, how things have changed

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The rest of the day for me was getting ready and attending my own booksigning at Jan’s Paperback Books.  I had a good turnout at the book store and enjoyed visiting with Tracy Weber who was also signing. The trip to and from the book store to the hotel was an adventure for me since I’m not used to driving in that much traffic. Thanks to the lady in my phone navigation system I made found my locations effortlessly.

That night was the awards banquet. One of the panelists on my amateur sleuth panel was up for best first mystery. Allen Eskens won! I was sitting at his table for the dinner. He was truly humbled and in awe that he won. I was excited because of the books I read by my fellow panelists his was my favorite

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Sunday I headed home. I enjoyed the conference. I don’t know if I’ll make the conference next year in Arizona, but I think I will try to get to the one in Hawaii in 2017. It may be the only way I get there since hubby doesn’t want to go to the island.

Crimelandia Here I Come!

This Thursday I am wading into waters that are unknown. This Thursday through Sunday is the Left Coast Crime conference in Portland, Oregon. Since I've decided to write in the genre that started me writing novels, I'm attending. I've been to romance Writers of American conferences and have enjoyed the camaraderie and good will at those. I'm hoping to feel the same at the mystery writer conference and come away learning things that will make my mystery books even better and perhaps have garnered a few more readers.

I'm on a panel  on Friday. After perusing the other authors books, I think it will be an interesting and entertaining panel. The moderator is Lori Rader-Day, with panelists: Allen Eskens, Barbara Petty, and  Ilene Schneider.  We'll be discussing amateur sleuths and cozy mysteries.

On Saturday, March 14th, I'll be at Jan's Paperback Books,18095 Sw Tualatin Valley Hwy, Beaverton, OR from 1-4pm. I'll be signing books with another mystery writer, Tracy Weber.

I've spent a couple mornings putting together outfits for the conference. I have the mystery books ready, I'll pick up mini booklets of the first chapters of the mystery books up at Staples in Bend on my way through there, and I have a gift basket for the raffle just about ready. It still needs some coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to go in it.

I don't know what to expect with a different group of people than romance writers, but I'll push my introvert self to mingle and glean as much info as I can.

If you're in the area I'd love to see you at my book signing at Jan's.

Do you like to attend conferences? Why or why not?